Match books



A'u s, 1967 M, M STERNAU 3,334,730

MATCH BOOKS Filed Oct. 27, 1965 1 N VEN TOR. //7/ /7/V /f '5 75 19/1/40 United States Patent 3,334,730 MATCH BOOKS Martin M. Sternau, Flushing, N.Y., assignor of thirty-three and one-third percent to Leo Stanger, Summit, NJ.

Filed Oct. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 506,902

' 7 Claims. (Cl. 206-29) This is a continuation-in-part of the application Ser. No. 372,974, filed June 5, 1964, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to match books and more particularly safety match books.

Conventional match books comprise a foldable booklike closure which may be opened to reveal a row of matches whose bases are held by an inwardly folded flap on the closure edge. A match, after removal, may be ignited by rubbing its head against an abrasive striking.

surface located on the flap. Such match books lack reliable safety means to protect the matches remaining in the book from being inadvertently ignited by sparks when the match that has been removed is struck. Such inadvertent ignition presents the danger of serious injury to the user of ordinary book matches.

In general, most book matches attempt to minimize this hazard by printed instructions advising the user to close the match book before striking the match. However, the number of injuries resulting from accidental ignition of matches attests to the inadequacy of this precaution.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved match book, particularly one which substantially eliminates the danger of accidentally igniting an entire book of matches when one match is struck.

Another object of the invention is to provide a match book of improved design which is simpler to manufacture than conventional match books.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a match book which is simpler to use than conventional match books.

According to the invention these objects are attained in whole or in part by holding an aligned set of matches at their bases with a stiff sheet that folds over the aligned heads of the matches at a hinge that is sufiiciently stiff to continuously snap shut over the matches but is sufficiently resilient to permit removal of a match.

According to another feature the fold only covers the first match heads and exposes the remainder of the matches.

According to still another feature of the invention the portion of the fold covering the matches continues over the length of the matches and terminates by grasping a second set of aligned matches and holding them against the first set.

These and other features are pointed out particularly in the claims. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become obvious from the following detailed description when read in light of the accompanying drawing. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced otherwise than particularly described.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a match book embodying the invention and in the closed position;

FIG. 2 shows the book of FIG. l-in the open position; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a set of matches in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of another match book embodying the invention and shown in respective closed and open positions.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 an envelope or closure generally designated 10, having leaves 12 and 14, holds two sets of matches 16 and 18 by means of respective end flaps 3,334,730 Patented Aug. 8, 1967 20 and 22. Each set of matches is conventional and corresponds to the set shown in FIG. 3, where a plurality of individual digit-like cardboard matches 24 extends integrally from a common cardboard base 26 and possesses conventional striking heads 28. The set can be manufactured from a cardboard rectangle by punching to form the digital matches and by application of the chemical heads in accordance with the usual practice.

Staples 30 and 32, piercing the respective flaps 20 and 22, the respective bases of sets 16 and 18, and the rear of respective leaves 12 and 14, secure the sets within the flaps and maintain them within the envelope 10. It is contemplated that instead of one set of matches, each flap sandwich between it and its leaf the bases of two sets of matches which project in the same direction. Conventional striking surfaces 36 are located on the backs of flaps 12 and 14.

The enclosure 10 is composed of one piece of resilient plastic material which is bent to form the flaps 12 and 14. A center portion 34 between the leaves 12 and 14 is permanently creased into the shape shown in FIG. 1. The creases have the effect of making the portion 34 more rigid than the resilient leaves so that when the leaves are parted the portion 34 largely maintains its creased shape while the resilient flaps bend as in FIG. 2.

Thus, when the match book is unstressed and not in use, the closure 10 snaps shut to the shape shown in FIG. 1. It is then possible to spread the leaves 12 and 14 and expose the matches of the sets 16 and 18 as shown in FIG. 2. One match can then be torn from its base. As the user turns the book to strike the match on one of the surfaces 36, the inherent elasticity of the closure leaves 12 and 14 snaps the closure shut, thereby protecting the unused matches. Preferably, the closure is transparent so that it is possible to see immediately whether matches are left without opening the book.

Where a single set of matches is held in each flap as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, removal of matches is greatly simplified from present common match books where two adjacent sets of matches are crowded together. Yet, the book holds the same number of matches (2 sets) as the common less convenient and more dangerous match books now available.

The closure 10 can be made of any spark-resistant or protected resilient material capable of being folded or manufactured to the shape shown which will retain its fold relative to the leaves 12 and 14. The material must make the leaves snap back into position. In one embodiment the closure is made of a material available under the name Mylar having a thickness of .010 inch. Also suitable are Polyflex Styrene .005 inch thick, cellulose acetate .006 inch thick, polyethylene .005 to .010 inch thick, and a material available under the name Trycite .010 inch thick.

FIGS. '4 and 5 illustrate a simpler match book also embodying the invention. Here the matches again correspond to the set shown in FIG. 3.

An envelope 40 folded into a flap 42 at its bottom grasps the match set of FIG. 3 at its base 26. A staple 44 piercing the flap 42, the base and the back of envelope 40 secures the matches within the flap. The envelope 40 continues upwardly to form a back sheet 46 that terminates in a three fold crease 48 as shown. A second flap 50 extends from the crease far enough to cover the striking heads 28 of the matches 24 but terminates soon enough to expose the upward match stems.

The material of the envelope 40, comprising the flaps 42 and 50 as well as the sheet 46, is composed of the same material as the envelope 10. The material is a resilient plastic which is itself comparatively stifi and is stiffened at the crease 48 to snap shut to the closed shape shown in FIG. 4, when released from the open position 3 of FIG. 5. A striking surface 52 may be placed on the flap 42 as shown, or on the back of sheet 46.

A user may remove the end matches without even lifting the flap 50. He does this by grasping the exposed shank of the match 24at the end and ripping it off its base 26 with an outward lateral movement. However, if desired, a new user may remove any match. He does this simply by lifting the flap 50 and if necessary pushing back the sheet 46 to the position shown in FIG. 5. After ripping a match 24 from the base 26 he can release the flap 42 and start to strike the match. The act of releasing the flap 42 by the elasticity of the flap 50 snaps it shut over the striking heads 28 to protect them from sparks.

While embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail it will be obvious that the invention may be practiced otherwise within its spirit and scope.

I claim:

1. A match book comprising a resilient sheet, a plurality of matches mounted on said sheet and lying substantially against said sheet, striking heads on the ends of said matches, a resilient leaf, joining means joining said leaf to said sheet and biasing said leaf toward said sheet so as to overlie said matches, said leaf overlying said matches enough to cover at least said striking heads on the ends of said matches, said leaf together with said sheet and said joining means comprising a folded sheet of resilient plastic material, said joining means comprising the portion of said material between said leaf and said sheet and having a plurality of permanent creases separated from each other by at least a flat section sufiiciently smaller than the lengths of said leaf and said sheet to make said joining means substantially stiffer than said leaf and said sheet, said leaf and said sheet being sufficiently plastic and resilient to arch in response to drawing said leaf from said matches and to snap said leaf toward said matches and hold said leaf in its original undistorted position parallel to said sheet by releasing it.

2. A match book as in claim 1, wherein said joining means constitute the sole means for holding the leaf against the matches.

3. A match book as in claim 1, wherein said material has a thickness and resilience to permit pulling said leaf away from said sheet for access to said matches within the limit that avoids permanent stress of said leaf, said sheet and said joining means.

4. A match book comprising a first resilient leaf, a second resilient leaf, a plurality of matches mounted on said first leaf and lying substantially against said first leaf, a plurality of matches mounted on said second leaf and lying substantially against said second leaf, said matches having respective striking heads, joining means joining said leaves and biasing said leaves toward each other with suflicient force to snap the leaves together after the leaves have been drawn apart; said leaves being of substantially the same size and, when they and said joining means are unstressed by a user, covering the heads on the two pluralities of matches and being in substantial face to face relation separated by said matches; said leaves and said joining means comprising together a folded sheet, of resil ient plastic material, said joining means comprising the portion of said material between said leaves and having a plurality of permanent creases separated from each other by a section of material sufiiciently smaller than said leaves to make said joining means stiffer than said leaves, said leaves being sufficiently plastic and resilient to arch in response to drawing one of said leaves from the other and to snap one of said leaves toward the other so it remains in its original undistorted position parallel to the other by releasing it.

5. A match book as in claim 4, wherein said joining means constitute the sole means for holding the leaves together.

6. A match book comprising a first resilient leaf, a second resilient leaf, a plurality of matches having bases at one end and striking heads at the other, a flap covering the bases of the matches and exposing the remainder, fastening means for holding said matches to said first leaf and said flap so as to lie substantially against said first leaf, joining means joining said leaves and biasing said leaves toward each other with sufiicient force to snap the leaves together after the leaves have been pulled apart, said leaves when permitted by a user to remain together covering said heads and substantially facing each other, said second leaf being shorter than said first leaf so as to expose the main portion of said matches between the flap and said second leaf while covering said striking heads, said leaves and said joining means comprising together a folded sheet of resilient material.

7. A matchbook comprising a resilient plastic sheet, a plurality of matches mounted on said sheet and lying substantially against said sheet, striking heads on the ends of said matches, a resilient leaf of plastic material, joining means joining said leaf to said sheet and holding said leaf substantially parallel to said sheet so as to overlie said striking heads on said matches, said leaf overlying said matches enough to cover at least said striking heads on the ends of said matches, said joining means comprising portions of said leaf and said sheet and having a plurality of permanent creases separated from each other by at least one short flat section sufiiciently smaller than the lengths of said leaf to make said joining means resist deformation more than said leaf and said sheet, said leaf and said sheet being sufliciently plastic and resilient to arch in response to drawing of said leaf from said matches and to snap said leaf toward said matches and hold said leaf in its original undistorted position by releasing it.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,015,625 9/ 1935' Harrison 22944 2,141,752 12/1938 Hoarle 229-44 2,392,991 1/ 1946 Macomber 20629 THERON E. CON-DON, Primary Examiner.

J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MATCH BOOK COMPRISING A RESILIENT SHEET, A PLURALITY OF MATCHES MOUNTED ON SAID SHEET AND LYING SUBSTANTIALLY AGAINST SAID SHEET, STRIKING HEADS ON THE ENDS OF SAID MATCHES, A RESILIENT LEAF, JOINING MEANS SAID LEAF TO SAID SHEET AND BIASING SAID LEAF TOWARD SAID SHEET SO AS TO OVERLIE SAID MATCHES, SAID LEAF OVERLYING SAID MATCHES ENOUGH TO COVER AT LEAST SAID STRIKING HEADS ON THE ENDS OF SAID MATCHES, SAID LEAF TOGETHER WITH SAID SHEET AND SAID JOINING MEANS COMPRISING A FOLDED SHEET OF RESILIENT PLASTIC MATERIAL, SAID JOINING MEANS COMPRISING THE PORTION OF SAID MATERIAL BETWEEN SAID LEAF AND SAID SHEET AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF PERMANENT CREASES SEPARATED FROM EACHOTHER BY AT LEAST SAID FLAT SECTION SUFFICIENTLY SMALLER THAN THE LENGTHS OF LEAF AND SAID SHEET TO MAKE SAID JOINING MEANS SUBSTANTIALLY STIFFER THAN SAID LEAF AND SAID SHEET, SAID LEAF AND SAID SHEET BEING SUFFICIENTLY PLASTIC AND RESILIENT TO ARCH IN RESPONSE TO DRAWING SAID LEAF FROM SAID MATCHES AND TO SNAP SAID LEAF TOWARD SAID MATCHES AND HOLD SAID LEAF IN ITS ORIGINAL UNDISTORTED POSITION PARALLEL TO SAID SHEET BY RELEASING IT. 